Rotary explosive-engine.



Patnted Dan. I0, 190:;

J. H. REED. ROTARY EXPLOSIVE ENGINE.

(Applies-tic; flla'd 3, 1900.)

'(lo Model.)

a Shuts-Shout I.

TM: NORRIS PETERS c0. wnurqumon wnsumwon, u. c.

No. 688,335. Patented Dec. 10, [90L J. H. REED.

ROTARY EXPLOSIVE ENGINE.

(A limion filed. Dec. 3,1900.) (Io Nodal.) q 3'Shoets--Shoot 2.

No. 688,335. Patented Q00. I0, I90].

' J. H. REED.

ROTARY EXPLOSIVE ENGINE.

(Applieaticn fled m. a, 1900'.) (No local.)

3 Shook-Shoot 3,

UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

JAMES H. REED, -OF SWAMPSCOTT, MASSACHUSETTS;

ROTARY EXPLdSlVE-ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 688,335, dated December 1o, 190i.

' Application filed DecemberS, 1900. Serial No. 38,426. (No model.)

To dZZ whom it ntcoy concern I Be it known that 1, JAMES H. REED, a citi zen of the United States, residing at Swampsoott, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rotary Gas-Engines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The present invention relates to gas-engines, and more particularly to an explosion gas-engine of the rotary type.

The object of myinvention is to provide a simple and effective gas-engine of the type referred to; and with this object in view my invention consists in the devices and combinations of devices hereinafter described and claimed.

While my invention may be embodied in many difierent constructions, in the drawings accompanying this application I have illustrated but one embodiment thereof, which,

however, I consider the best at present known to me and which in operation has given excellent results. i

In the drawings, Figure l is a view in end elevation of a rotary engine embodying my invention in its preferred form. .Fig. 2 is a View in side elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is a plan View of the swinging frame or block which carries the explosion-chamber. Fig. 4 is a side elevation thereof. Fig. 5 is adetail sectional view on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4:. Fig. 6

is an end elevation or face view of the rotary piston-carrier. Fig. 7 is a central sectional view of the same; and Figs. 8 and 9 are a face and plan view, respectively, of the crank-disk from which the pump for forcing ga s to the.

explosion-chamber is operated.

The engine shown in the drawings is provided with a rotary piston-carrier provided with an annular open groove" in its" face, a sliding piston mounted thereon, a swinging block orframe pivoially mounted upon the shaft of the piston-carrier provided ,with a laterally-proj ectin g explosion-chamber fitting the groove of the piston-carrier, means for moving the piston to close the explosion-chamber, means for moving the block and explothe spirit of my invention.

sion-chamber carried thereby with the pistoncarrier during a portion of its revolution, means for supplying gas to the explosionchatnber during such movement, and means for igniting the gas. It is to be understood, however, that the rotary piston-carrier and piston might be otherwise constructed and that other means than those shown might be provided for causing the piston to close the explosion-chamber without departing from It is also to be understood that the explosion-chamber might be otherwise constructed,hein g formed wholly or in part by portions of the apparatus other than the swinging block.

Referring to the drawings, in which like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the several views, 1 indicates the base of the frame, from which rise'four standards 2, the two standards at each end being connectedby cross-bars 3.

L indicates a rotary piston-carrier, shown as consisting of a disk secured to a shaft 5", suitably journaled in the cross-bars 3 of the frame. The face of the piston-carrier 4 is provided with an annular open groove 5, in which the explosion-chamber is received, as will be hereinafter described.

Mounted on the piston-carrier 4, so as to reciprocate across the groove 5, is a sliding piston 6, consisting of a plate, the rear edge of which as viewed in Fig. 1 fits closely against the face of the piston-carrier and the bottom of groove 5 and the forward edge of which is flush with the flanges which form theouter and inner walls of the groove. The inner wall of the groove 5 is formed by the circular flange 7, and in this flange is cut a slot 8, through which the piston 6 slides, and in the outer wall of the groove 5 is cut a notch 9, which receives the end of the piston when projected across the groove.

10 designates a segmental block or frame loosely pivoted upon the shaft 5 in front of the piston-carrier 4. Projecting from the rear face of this block is an explosion-chamber 11, which snugly fits within the groove 5 of the piston-carrier. The rear end of the explosion-chamber is closed and its front end is open. The front end of the chamber 11 is beveled oif, as shown in dotted lines in Figs.

too

1 and 4, so that at a certain point in the revolution of the piston-carrier the piston can be projected across the groove 5 and fit snugly against the front end of the explosion-chamber. The rear face of the block extends beyond the end of the explosion-chamber and is arranged to fit snugly against the flanges which form the outer and inner walls of the groove 5 and close said groove for some distance in advance of the explosionchamber. For projecting the piston 6 across the groove 5 to close the explosion-chamber the following mechanism is provided: A spring 12 is arranged within the flange 7,one end of which bears against the inner surface of the flange and the other end of which bears against a stud 13, projecting from the side of the piston. A similar stud extends from the rear side of the piston through a slot 14, cut in the piston-carrier, and is provided on the other side of the piston-carrier with a friction-roll 15, which during a portion of therevolution of the piston-carrier is engaged by a stationary cam 16, the hub of which is secured to a rod 17, connecting the standards 2 at one side of theframe. The cam 16 acts to withdraw the piston 6 to allow the piston to pass by the explosion-chamber during the revolution of the piston-carrier and then release the piston to allow the spring 12 to project the piston across the groove 5 and close the end of the explosionrchamber. The piston 6 is prevented from moving laterally by means of the roll 15, bearing against the rear face of the piston-carrier, and a plate 18, secured to the slide and bearing against the front face of the carrier. After the piston 6 has been moved by the spring 12 to close the explosionchamber the block 10 is moved with the piston-carrier while gas is being supplied to the explosion-chamber by means of the following mechanism: The lower edge of the block 10 is provided with a segmental gear 19, with which meshes a pinion 20, secured to a horizontal shaft 21, journaled on the standards 2 at one side of the frame. To the shaft 21 is also secured a pinion 22, with which meshes a segmental gear 23 on the lower end of a lever 24, pivoted at 25 to the frame and provided at its upper end with a roll 26, which engages the groove of the cam 27, secured to the shaft 5 By means of this construction as the cam 27 is rotated the lever 24 is oscillated to rotate the shaft 21 in opposite directions and through the pinion 20 and segmental gear 19 to move the block 10 with the piston-carrier during a portion of its revolution and then return the block to its original position.

' The explosive gas or mixture of gases is supplied to the explosion-chamber by means of a pumpactnated from the shaft 5 and a suitable conduit connecting the pump with the explosion-chamber. The piston of the pump is indicated at 28 and is arranged to reciprocate in a pump-chamber 29. The pis ton 28 is secured to the lower end of a rod 30, the upper end of which is received in a suitable guideway in an overhanging bracket 31 of the frame. Below the bracket 31 the rod is slotted, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, and in said slot is seated a block 32, through which passes a sleeve 33. Passing through the sleeve 33 is a stud 34, projecting from a block 35, adjustably secured in a slot cut in the face of disk 36, secured to the rear end of shaft 5 A nut on the outer end of stud 34 clamps the block 35 and sleeve 33 in adjusted position. By means of this construction as the shaft 5 is rotated the rod 30 is reciprocated, the block 32 sliding back and forth in the slot in rod 30.

37 indicates a pipe through which gas is supplied to the pump chamber. Leading from the pump-chamber is a pipe 38, which extends upwardly and is then bent in a curve concentric with the center of shaft 5 To the block 10 is secured a pipe 39, bent on a similar curve, with which the pipe 38 has a telescopic connection. The pipe 39 connects with a passsage-way40,formcd in the block 10, which communicates with the rear end of the explosion'chamber. In the passage-way 40 is located an oscillating valve 41, provided with ports adapted to register with the portions of the passage-way 40 leading to and from the valve when the valve is turned into a certain position. For opening the valve toadmit gas to the explosion-chamber after the chamber has been closed by the piston 6 and for closing the valve prior to the ignition of the-gas a two-armed lever 42 is secured to the valvestem, one arm of which is adapted to be en gaged by a pin or projection 43 on a standard 2 during the forward movement of block 10 to open the valve and the other arm of which is provided with a pin 44, which contacts with the inclined end 45 of an arm extendingdownwardly from the cross-piece3 to close the valve prior to the operation of the igniting device.

For igniting the gas in the explosion-chamher the block 10 has mounted thereon a stationary electrode 46 and a rotatable elect-rode 47, provided with contact points situated within the explosionchamber. Secured to the cross bar 3 and extending downward therefrom are conductors 48 and 49, which bear against the electrodes 46 and 47, respectively, and have a sliding contact therewith during the movement of block 10. A coiled spring 50, surrounding the electrode 47 and secured at one end to the electrode and at the other end to the block 10, tends to rotate the electrode 47 to separate the contact-points. To the electrode 47 is secured a laterally-projecting arm 51, with which a pin on a springlatch 52, secured to the block 10, engages to hold thecontact-points in engagement. An arm 53 projects from one of the standards 2 into the path of the latch 52 and contacts with.

the latch to release the rotatable electrode as the block 10 nears the end of its forward ing device will be suitably insulated in any convenient manner.

To prevent the actuation of the valve on the return movement of the block by the engagement of arm 42 with pin 43, the engaging portion of the arm is formed as a pawl 55, pivoted to the end of the arm and acted upon by a leaf-spring 56, the.construction being such that the pawl is prevented from turning when engaged by pin 43 during the forward movement of block 10, but is free to turn about its pivot on the return movement of the block.

The operation of the mechanism above described may be briefly described as follows: Assuming the piston-carrier 4 to be rotating in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 1, the piston 6 is held retracted first by the engagement of cam 16 with roller 15 and then by the engagement of the end of the piston with the inner wall of the explosion-chamber until the piston comes opposite the end of the explosion-chamber. At this point in the revolution of the piston-carrier the piston is pro jected across the groove 5, fitting snugly against the end of the explosion-chamber and its edges also fitting snugly against the bottom of groove 5 and rear face of block 10. The lever 24 is now oscillated, and through the connections hereinbefore described the block 10 is moved with the piston-carrier, the piston remaining in contact with the end of the explosion chamber. During the forward movement of the block 10 the valve 41 is first opened to allow the pump to force gas through the pipes and passage-way forming the conduit connecting the pump with the explosionchamber and thereafter closed. The continued forward movement of the block 10 brings the latch 52 in contact with arm 53, releasing the latch from arm 51 and allowing the contact-points of the electrodes'to separate and produce ,a spark for igniting the gas. Under the force of the explosion the piston is driven forward, the gas being confined in the explosion-chamber and in the groove 5 of the piston-carrier until the piston passes beyond the block 10. As the piston leaves the block the explosion-chamber is opened to the air, and the gas is allowed to escape.

Having thus indicated the nature-and scope of my invention and having specifically described a preferred embodiment thereof, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States 1. YA rotary gas-engine, having, in combination, a rotary piston-carrier, a piston carried thereby, an explosion-chamber, means for closing said chamber by the piston during a portion of the revolution of the piston-oarrier, means for moving said chamber with the piston-carrier while so closed, means for supplying gas to said chamber during such movement, and means for igniting the gas,- substantially as described.

2. A rotary gas-engine, having, in combination, a rotary piston-carrier, a piston movably mounted thereon,an explosion-chamber, means for actuating the piston to close said chamber during a portion of the revolution of the piston-carrier, means for moving said chamber with the piston -carrier while so closed, means for supplying gas to said chamber during such movement and means for igniting the gas, substantially as described.

3. A rotary gas-engine, having, in combination, a rotary piston-carrier provided with an open groove, a piston movably mounted thereon, a block provided with an explosionchamber fitting said groove, means for actuating the piston to close the chamber, means for supplying gas to said chamber, and means for igniting the gas, substantially as described.

4. A rotary gas-engine, having, in combination, a rotary piston-carrier provided with an open groove, a piston movably mounted thereon, a block provided with an explosionchamber fitting said groove and arranged to close the groove in advance of the chamber, means for actuating the piston to close the chamber during a portion of the revolution of the piston-carrier, means for supplying gas to said chamber, and means for igniting the gas, substantially as described.

5. A rotary gas-engine, having, in combination, a rotary piston-carrier provided with an open groove, a piston movably mounted thereon, a block provided with an explosionchamber fitting said groove and arranged to close the groove in advanceof the chamber, means for actuating the piston to close-the chamber during a portion ofthe revolution of the piston-carrier, means for moving the block with the piston-carrier while the chamber is so closed, means for supplying gas to the chamber during such movement, and means for igniting the gas, substantially as described.

6. A rotary gas-engine, having, in combination, a rotary piston-carrier provided with an open groove, a piston movably mounted thereon, a block provided with an explosionchamber fitting said groove and arranged to close the groove in advance of the chamber, means'for actuating the piston to close the chamber during a portion of the revolution of the piston-carrier, a cam driven by the piston-carrier and connected mechanism for moving the block with the'piston carrier while the chamber is so closed, means for supplying gas to the chamber during such movement and means for igniting the'gas, substantially as described.

'7. A rotary gas-engine, having, in combithereon, a block provided with an explosionchamber fitting said groove and arranged to close the groove in advance of the chamber, a spring and a stationary cam for actuating the piston to close the chamber during a portion of the revolution of the piston-carrier, means for supplying gas to said chamber, and means for igniting the gas, substantially as described.

8. A rotary gas-engine, having, in combination, a rotary piston-carrier provided with an open groove, a piston movably mounted thereon ,a block pivotally mounted concentric with the piston-carrier provided with an explosion-chamber fitting said groove and arranged to close the groove in advance of the chamber, means for actuating the piston to close the chamber during a portion of the revolution of the piston-carrier, a cam driven by the piston-carrier and connected mechanism for moving the block with the piston carrier while the chamberis so closed, means for supplying gas to the chamber during such movement, and means for igniting the gas, substantially as described.

9. A rotary gas-engine, having, in combination, a rotary piston-carrier provided with an open groove, a piston movably mounted thereon, a block provided with an explosionchamber fitting said groove and arranged to:

close the groove in advance of the chamber,

means for actuating the piston to closethe chamber during a portion of the revolution of the piston-carrier, means for moving the block with the piston-carrier while the chamber is so closed, means for supplying gas to the chamber during such movement, electrodescarried by said block provided with contactpoints within said chamber, and means for actuating said electrodes to separate their contact-points, substantially as described.

10. A rotary gas-engine, having, in combination, a rotary piston-carrier provided with an'open groove, a piston movably mounted thereon, a block provided with an explosionchamber fitting said groove-and arranged to close the groove in advance of the chamber, means for actuating the piston to close the chamber during a portion of the revolution of the piston-carrier, means for moving the block with the piston-carrier while the chamher is so closed, means for supplying gas to the chamber during such movement, electrodes carried by said block provided with contact-points within said chamber, conductors bearing against said electrodes and having a sliding contact therewith, and means for actuating said electrodes to separate their contact-points, substantially as described.

11. A rotary gas-engine, having, in combination, a rotary piston-carrier provided with an open groove, a piston movably mounted thereon, a block provided with an explosionchamber fitting said groove and arranged to close the groove in advance of the chamber,

means for actuating the piston to close the chamber during a portion of the revolution of the piston-carrier, means for moving the block with the piston-carrier while the chamber is so closed, means for supplying gas to the chamber during such movement, a stationary and a rotatable electrode carried by said block provided with con tact-points within said chamber, a latch for holding the rotatable electrode from movement, a spring for rotating said electrode to separate the contact-points, and means for actuating the latch during the forward movement of the block to release said rotatable electrode, substantially as described. I

12. A rotary gas-engine, having, in combination, a rotary pistoncarrier provided With an open groove, a piston movably mounted thereon, a block provided with an explosionchamber fitting said groove and arranged to close the'groovein advance of the chamber, means for actuating the piston to close the chamber during'a portion of the revolution of the piston-carrier, means for moving the block with the piston-carrier while the chamber is so closed and for returning it to its original position, means for supplying gas to the chamber during the forward movement of the block, a stationary anda rotatable electrode carried by said block'provided with con- 5 tact-points within said chamber, alatch' for holding the rotatable electrode from movement, a spring for rotating said electrode to separate the contact-points, means for actuating the latch during the forward movement of the block to release said rotatable 1 electrode, and meansfor returning said electrode to a position to be engaged by the latch during the return movement, substantially as described.

13. A rotary gas-engine, having, in combination, a rotary piston-carrier provided with an open groove, a piston movably mounted thereon, a block provided with an explosionchamber fitting said groove and arranged to close the groove in advance of the chamber, means for actuating the piston to close the chamber during a portion of the revolution of the piston-carrier, means for moving the block with the piston-carrier while the chamher is so closed, means for supplying gas to said chamber comprising a suitable conduit, a valve in said conduit, means'for opening said valve to admit gas to said chamber during such movement, means for closing said valve, and means for igniting the gas, substantially as described.

14. A rotary gas-engine, having, in combination, a rotary piston-carrier provided with an open groove, a piston movably mounted thereon, a block provided with an explosionchamber fitting said groove and'arranged to close the groove in advance of the chamber, means for actuating the'piston to close the chamber during a portion of the revolution of the piston-carrier, means for moving the I and means for igniting the gas, substantially 1o block with the piston-carrier while the chamas described. her is so closed, means for supplying gas to In testimony whereof I affix my signature said chamber comprising a suitable conduit, inpresence of two witnesses.

a valve in said conduit carried by said block, an arm secured to the valve, stationary projections arrangedin the path of said arm opl Witnesses: erating to engage the arm during the move- HORACE VAN EVEREN, ment of the block to open and close said valve, THOMAS E. ROTHWELL.

JAMES H. REED. 

